Coogs in Tune: UH Students Participate in NBC's 'Clash of the Choirs'Seven UH students to perform with Houston choir during competition to be aired Dec. 17 - 20

Houston-

When seven University of Houston student vocalists perform on national
television as part of NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs” television show starting Dec.
17, they’ll be wearing familiar colors.

“We were told our outfits were going to be red,” said UH senior Jody
Williams. “It’s purely coincidental and kind of cool that we’ll be able to
represent UH by wearing the school’s colors.”

Williams is among the UH students who are part of a 20-member Houston choir
directed by pop star Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child. This ensemble will
compete against choirs from other cities that are led by other musical
celebrities including Michael Bolton, Patti Labelle, Nick Lachey and Blake
Shelton. The winning choir will receive prize money for a designated charity or
community project.

The ensembles will all make their debuts during the television premiere of
“Clash of the Choirs” at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 17 in New York City. It will be
broadcast live on NBC television. Joining Williams are students senior John
Gallagher, senior Sean Arnold, sophomore Michael Kessler, junior Frankie
Espinoza, sophomore Spencer Soward and junior Ake Jamal.

These students were among the many who recently auditioned in Houston and are
now among the few who were recruited for the opportunity to perform on a
national stage. Since November, the Houston choir has been rehearsing diligently
with Rowland.

With the exception of Jamal, all of the participating UH students are members
of the Moores School of Music’s Concert Chorale.

“I am excited that they will receive this kind of national exposure,” said
Betsy Cook Weber, the chorale’s director and associate professor of music. “I
know they’ll have a great time, and I’ll be rooting for them to win.”

Unlike other reality competition shows, NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs” places an
emphasis on ensembles rather than individual performers. The participating
students are hoping that it ultimately strengthens the public’s perspectives of
choirs. “The show might offer audiences a broader view of choral music,”
Williams said. “It helps that the selections performed will be pop-based, but I
am hoping people walk away with a sense of what a good choir sounds like.”

Williams and her fellow students are adjusting to delivering pop standards as
opposed to classical arrangements, but they also must contend with other new
performance elements including choreography and singing in front of a live TV
audience.

“As part of the Concert Chorale, we’re all used to performing, so we know
what we have to do” Espinoza said. “This is just a different type of
performance, so we are all very excited by both being on television, but also by
expanding our capabilities. This is a rare opportunity that also provides
valuable experience.”

Before the UH students join the other choirs on stage during the “Clash of
the Choirs” broadcast, they will be among other show participants who will be
featured on a segment of NBC’s “Today” show on the morning of Monday, Dec. 17.

“Clash of the Choirs” will run Dec. 17 – 20. Audiences will decide the
winning choir by voting for their favorite. Choirs with the lowest votes will be
eliminated at the conclusion of various episodes.

Other choirs competing in the “Clash” hail from New Haven, Conn. (led by
Bolton), Philadelphia (led by LaBelle), Cincinnati (led by Lachey) and Oklahoma
City (led by Shelton).

“It’s great when our students are recognized for their exceptional talent,"
said David Ashley White, director of MSM. “Having the chance to travel to New
York City, appear on national television and spread some good Cougar spirit at
the holiday season is great for them, the Moores School and the university.”